Retractable door protection device

ABSTRACT

A Door Protector for an overhead retractable door comprising a pair of barrier portions, each in pivoting communication with a pair of saddle portions. Each of the barrier portions and the paired saddle portions are generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of a retractable door. The barrier portions comprise one or more barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioning tabs. Barrier portions pivot in a 90° arc from/to a vertical position to a horizontal position. In the vertical position, barrier portion tabs may be used to support a roller assembly and maintain on open door in a retracted position. Practice of the present invention precludes closing of a retracted door until such time as barrier portions are pivoted to their horizontal position to serve as a barrier and preclude objects from encroaching upon or damaging the lower portion of a closed garage door.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is not related to any pending application.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

This application is not federally sponsored research/development.

REFERENCES TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application is not referenced to any microfiche appendix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retractable doors such as overhead garage doors are well known in theart. The practice of stacking or aligning one or more loaded palletsadjacent to closed overhead doors in anticipation of a vehicle's arrivalto expedite the vehicle's loading process is also well known. What isnot known is a retractable door protection device which inhibits theability of pallets and other objects from encroaching upon andcontacting the closed door's lower portion and buckling or otherwisedamaging the door.

The present invention addresses this deficiency in a novel and directmanner and further precludes the ability of a retracted overhead door tobe closed absent deployment of the barrier blocking devices of theinstant invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A door protector for an overhead retractable door comprising a pair ofbarrier portions each in pivoting communication with a pair of saddleportions, each of the pair of barrier portions and of the pair saddleportions generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of aretractable overhead door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art perspective view of a garage door with encroachingpallets causing damage/buckling to the door's lower portion.

FIGS. 2 through 5D are perspective views of the instant invention invarious stages of deployment as well as a detailed views of apositioning tab supporting a garage door roller assembly to maintain aretracted door in an open position, and the open/close practice of theinvention's pivoting barrier(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides for inventive concepts capable of beingembodied in a variety of specific contexts. The specific embodimentsdiscussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which tomake and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting thescope of the instant invention.

The claims and specification describe the invention presented and theterms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use ofsuch terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the priorart may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein.Whenever there is a question between the broader definition of suchterms used in the prior art and the more specific use of the termsherein, the more specific meaning is intended.

Reference drawings of the detail proceeds immediately wherein likenumerals designate like parts. In FIG. 1 it is seen where a garage door(3) has a first end (4) and second end (5). Also shown in FIG. 1 is aretractable garage door roller (6) which is typically inserted within atrack mechanism (not shown) and a roller assembly (9) which is typicallyhoused in a roller assembly bracket or other similarly intendedstructure to affix the roller to a panel of the retractable door (notshown). In FIG. 1 it is seen where a plurality of pallets (15 and 19)have been positioned in anticipation of a vehicle's arrival at a loadingdock. Such pallet positioning is typically facilitated via forkliftpartially shown as 12, which places the pallets as close to the door (3)as possible. In practice, a first pallet (15) is typically positionedcorrectly or aligned flush (25) with a door's normal lowermost surfacemaking contact with a prepared floor surface (25). However, asadditional pallets are positioned for loading, it is seen where pallet(19) abuts, hits or otherwise urges pallet (15) into the lower portionof the door (22) causing distinct buckling or damage to the door asevidenced in the spacing between the initial door positioning (25) andthe now buckled surface (22). Repeated stacking operations of this sortdamage doors to the extent where they sometimes become inoperable.

FIGS. 2 through 5D are perspective views of the instant invention invarious stages of deployment as well as detailed views of a positioningtab supporting a garage door roller assembly to maintain a retracteddoor in an open position, and the inventions barriers' pivotingopen/close practice.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 5D. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3particularly, it is shown where the barriers (37) (in phantom) are showndeployed in vertical positioning where tab (45) engages or otherwisesupports a retracting door roller assembly (9). Additional detail withrespect to this supporting feature will be discussed in association withFIG. 4. FIG. 2 is intended to disclose door (3) in its closed positionwith barriers (37) (non-phantom) deployed along horizontal planes topreclude pallet's (15) encroachment. It is shown where foot portions(40) of the barrier (37) preclude the pallet's (15) encroachment beyondthe point of contact. The foot portions (40) may be inserted into apre-drilled accommodation such as a base plate (not shown) ordrilled/sized accommodation to further strengthen resistance to aforeign object urging (See (41) FIG. 3.) A handle (45) is adjustablyaffixed or permanently attached to barrier portion (37) to facilitatethe barrier's movement upward (or downward) from saddle (28). The saddleportions (28) as shown in FIG. 2 further illustrate a saddle base (29)which is bolted (30) to a prepared surface such as but not limited to agarage floor via attachment means readily known to those skilled in theart. When positioned vertically barring (37) are inserted within baselip (38) to further support barrier (37) positioning.

FIG. 3 illustrates an arc of approximately 90° (50) whereupon barrierportions (37) may be manipulated to and from accommodation within saddleportions (28) and base lip portion (38). A pivoting aperture (34) allowsfor a pivoting pin (35) to traverse a first bored section of eachsaddle, the pivoting aperture (34) displaced within barrier portion (37)and a second (exiting) bored section of the saddle. (Further illustratedin FIGS. 5A-5D.) When the barrier (37) is in its vertical position, theaperture (34) is guided along the pivoting pin/bolt in a manner to allowits seating within base lip (38). Concurrent with this seating, thepositioning tab ((45) - reference FIG. 4) may be displaced or otherwisepositioned to support roller assembly (9) and maintain a retractabledoor (3) in an open/retracted position.

Turning now specifically to FIGS 5A through 5D whereupon the pivotingdisplacement of the barriers of the instant invention may be observed infurther detail. In FIGS. 5A and 5B it is shown where a prepared floorsurface such as but not limited to a garage floor surface (47) andbarrier (37) are positioned along parallel planes. A board accommodation(41) has been drilled or otherwise gouged into prepared floor surface(47) to allow for an appropriate seating of barrier foot (40) in sodoing the barrier at foot (40) is positioned to further resist anyinfluencing pressure from encroaching elements such as pallets upongarage door (3). Pivoting pin (31) is shown inserted through saddle (28)and barrier (37) to allow for the rotation downward and horizontalplacement of the barrier in consistent with the views illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5D. FIGS. 5C illustrate the pivoting operation of barrier(37) to its vertical stature. In FIG. 5C barrier (37) is pivoted by apivoting pin (31) along line (50). One so pivoted as can be illustratedin FIG. 5D the barrier (37) is allowed to descend and seat itself withinsaddle base (38) and saddle (28) providing for a secure seated uprightaccommodation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, aswell as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent topersons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of theinvention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theconception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilizedas a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying outthe same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realizedby those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended Claims.

It is therefore, contemplated that the Claims will cover any suchmodifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

1. A door protector to prevent damage caused by contact with cargopallets or the like comprising at least one barrier portion in pivotingcommunication with a saddle portion; and, a saddle base portion incommunication with the saddle portion and a prepared surface.
 2. Thedoor protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion further comprisesone or more barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioningtabs.
 3. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion iscradled within the saddle portion when the barrier portion is in uprightvertical position and may be pivoted approximately 90 degrees to alowered horizontal position, the barrier portion resting upon one ormore foot portions when in the lowered position.
 4. The door protectorof claim 1 wherein the pivoting communication is facilitated by a pivotpin traversing a first bored section of the saddle, a set of pivotapertures displaced within the barrier portion and a second boredsection of the saddle.
 5. The door protector of claim 1 wherein thebarrier portion is cylindrical in configuration and the saddle portionis appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when thebarrier portion is in its upright vertical position.
 6. The doorprotector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion is configured to havethree or more distinguishable surfaces and the saddle portion isappropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when thebarrier portion is in its upright vertical position.
 7. The doorprotector of claim 1 wherein one or more barrier positioning tabs may beutilized to maintain a retractable door in an open position when thebarrier portion is in its upright vertical position.
 8. The doorprotector of claim 1 wherein a pair of barrier portions and pair saddleportions are generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of aretractable overhead garage door when the barrier portions are in theirupright vertical position.
 9. A door protector for an overheadretractable door comprising a pair of barrier portions each in pivotingcommunication with a pair saddle portions, each of the pair of barrierportions and the pair of saddle portions generally positioned parallelto first and second ends of a retractable overhead door when the barrierportions are in an upright vertical position.
 10. The door protector ofclaim 9 wherein each of the barrier portions further comprise one ormore barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioning tabs. 11.The door protector of claim 9 wherein each of the barrier portions iscradled within a respectively positioned an accommodating saddle portionwhen the barrier portion is in its upright vertical position and may bethereafter pivoted approximately 90 degrees to a lowered horizontalposition, each of the barrier portions resting upon one or more footportions when in a lowered horizontal position.
 12. The door protectorof claim 9 wherein the pivoting communication is facilitated via pivotpin traversing a first bored section of each saddle, a set of pivotapertures displaced within the barrier portion section and a secondbored section of the saddle.
 13. The door protector of claim 9 whereinthe barrier portion is cylindrical in configuration and the saddleportion is appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portionwhen the barrier portion is in its upright position.
 14. The doorprotector of claim 9 wherein the barrier portion is configured to havethree or more distinguishable surfaces and the saddle portion isappropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when thebarrier portion is in its upright position.
 15. The door protector ofclaim 9 wherein one or more barrier positioning tabs may be utilized tomaintain a retractable door in an open position when the barrier portionis in its upright position.
 16. The door protector of claim 12, whereinthe pivot pin is a bolt and nut combination configured to serve as apivoting axis.